Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 December 1893 — Bank Note Microbes. [ARTICLE]

Bank Note Microbes.

Two Havanese bacteriologists, DrsAcosta and Gronde-Rossi, conceived th& idea, surely an original one, of studying the microbes of bank notes. They have published the result of their researcheson the notes of the Spanish bank of Havana. They have proved, in the first place, that the weight of these notes increases in the course of their circulation, by reason of the addition of foreign matter. At the end of a certain time the bacteriological analysis demonstrated a considerable increase in the number of microbes; in two cases this number rose to more than 19,000, The physioians discovered specially the presence of a septic bacillus, which rapidly kills animals innoculated with it; this, to speak properly, is the specific microbe of the bank note, and Tullamon thinks that the name bacillus septicus aureus could be justly given to it. Messrs. Acosta and Grande-Rossi have, besides, recognized distinctly in the bank notes examined by them eight pathogenic species, among which are the bacillus of tuberoulosis, that of diphtheria, and the streptococcus of erysipelas. The two bacteriologists do not say what denominations of the notes they experimented with. It may be supposed, however, that they did not use notes of 1,000 or even 100 francs. If the notes were of that size, it would be difficult to verify their experiments in all laboratories, the means of which in general do not permit of suoh prodigality. What use can the Havanese make of their bank notes that they become such receptacles of microbes? Messrs. Acosta and Grande-Rossi declare that the children of Havana are accustomed to carry bank notes in their mouths. It is easy to believe that the adults carry them elsewhere. [Annales d’Hygiene Publique.